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Cadgwith
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Cadgwith (Cornish: Porthkajwydh,[1] meaning cove of the thicket) is a village and fishing port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.[2] It is on the Lizard Peninsula between The Lizard and Coverack.[3] It is in the civil parish of Grade Ruan.
Key Information
History
[edit]
The village has its origins in medieval times as a collection of fish cellars in a sheltered south-east facing coastal valley with a shingle cove. Fishing subsidised local farmers' livelihoods. Cadgwith was originally called 'Porthcaswydh', becoming 'Por Cadjwydh' in Late Cornish, and is derived from the Cornish word for 'a thicket', literally meaning battle of trees, probably because the valley was densely wooded.[4] From the 16th century, the village became inhabited, with fishing as the main occupation. Subsequently, houses, lofts, capstan houses, and cellars constructed of local stone or cob walls and thatched or slated roofs were built along the beach and up the sides of the valley leading to Cadgwith's characteristic Cornish fishing village appearance. In recent times a very small Anglican church was built, next to the path from the car park down to the seafront, dedicated to St Mary.[5] This 'tin tabernacle' church was designated a Grade II listed building in February 2024.[6]
Geography
[edit]Cadgwith has two beaches separated by a promontory called "The Todden", thought to mean laying ground in Cornish.[7] To the north-east is the larger beach, made mostly of shingle with a shallow slope, referred to as Cadgwith Cove, Big Beach, The Cove, Fishing Beach, or the Working Cove; all the fishermen work from this beach. The other smaller beach on the south-west side is a mixture of sand and large boulders and is called Little Cove, Cadgwith Cove or Little Beach and used as the swimming beach by locals and holiday-makers. The Todden, maximum height about 9m above sea level, provides a view of the beaches and the village. There is a natural passage through The Todden which connects the beaches. Pointing seaward from The Todden are two rocks called The Island and The Mare. At low tide the beaches are connected by a strip between the Todden and The Island. Cadgwith is sheltered from prevailing winds from the south-west or west, but easterly or south-easterly winds can produce rough seas and swells. During stormy weather waves can break over The Island. Rough seas can reach the low-lying buildings and homes. The sea has eroded large areas of The Todden and access to the promontory by a narrow pathway has been preserved by sea wall defences funded by Cornwall Council and The Tham Trust.
Cadgwith lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Fishing
[edit]Cadgwith owes its existence to the fishing industry. Pilchard fishing occurred until the 1950s using large seine boats and seine nets, which was a system used to enclose the large shoals of pilchards, and coordinated by the use of lookouts, known as huers (from the Cornish 'Hevva, Hevva!' ('Here they are!)), positioned on the cove's two headlands. In 1904, a record 1,798,000 pilchards were landed over four days. Due to overfishing and climate changes pilchards are no longer found in large enough numbers to sustain pilchard fishing in Cadgwith, instead brown edible crabs, spider crabs, lobsters, sharks, monkfish, and conger eel are regularly landed with most being sold abroad through fish merchants but some being sold locally by the fishmonger, café, public house, and seafood snack shop. However, the Huer's hut can still be seen on the cliff above the beach.
Wrecks
[edit]The Lizard Peninsula has a treacherous coastline due to a combination of submerged rocks and weather factors (gales, storms, or fog). There are numerous wrecks on the rocks off Lizard Point known as The Stags, and The Manacles which lie near Coverack, and there are a number of other rocks off the coast of Cadgwith known as The Craggan and The Boa. Deep sea diving onto the wrecks is quite popular.
Lifeboats
[edit]Lifeboat services throughout the British Isles are run as a charity and staffed by volunteers organised by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The RNLI stationed a lifeboat at Cadgwith between 1867 and 1963, with lifeboats crewed by local fishermen as a benevolent service to all seafarers, especially due to the treacherous local waters. Until 1941 the station operated a 'pulling and sailing' boat, but in 1941 the motor lifeboat Guide of Dunkirk arrived. The Cadgwith station was closed in 1963 after the merger, in 1961, of the Lizard and Cadgwith lifeboats and the opening of a new lifeboat station, the Lizard-Cadgwith Lifeboat Station, at Kilcobben Cove. This is approximately halfway along the coast between The Lizard and Cadgwith and is more sheltered from the prevailing winds. In 1987 the name was changed to the Lizard Lifeboat and in 2012 the boathouse was rebuilt and modernised to house a new lifeboat.[8] The redundant lifeboat house at Cadgwith has since been used by the Cadgwith Pilot Gig Club.[9][10]
History of the Cadgwith lifeboats
[edit]The first lifeboat was Western Commercial Traveller. She was 33 ft long (10 m) and 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) wide. She had a crew of thirteen and was rowed by ten oars. She cost £290 and was built by Woolfe and Shadwell. In 1878, the Western Commercial Traveller was renamed Joseph Armstrong after the late Chief Superintendent of the locomotive and carriage developments of the Great Western Railway. A replacement lifeboat, also named Joseph Armstrong, came on station in June 1887. She was 37 ft long (11 m) and 8 ft wide (2.4 m). With twelve oars and fifteen crew, she cost £454 and was built by Forrest Limehouse.
In 1898, a new lifeboat named Minnie Moon arrived in Cadgwith. She was 39 ft long (12 m) and 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) wide, with twelve oars and fifteen crew. She cost £798 and was built at Thames Ironworks, Blackwall. She holds the record for the greatest number of lives saved from one rescue: 227 lives were saved from the SS Suevic on the night of 17/18 March 1907 which was wrecked in fog and gales on The Stag Rocks on the Maenheere Reef, off Lizard Point.[11] Two silver RNLI gallantry medals were awarded to members of the Cadgwith lifeboat crew: Edwin Rutter, Coxswain Superintendent and Rev. ‘Harry’ Vyvyan, Honorary Secretary.[12] Other lifeboat crews involved in the rescue included The Lizard, Coverack, and Porthleven. The centenary of the rescue was commemorated on 17 March 2007.[13]
The Herbert Sturmey arrived on station in 1932. She was 37 ft long (11 m) and 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) wide, with twelve oars and fifteen crew. She cost £2000 and was built by Summers and Payne of Cowes.
The last Cadgwith lifeboat was the Guide of Dunkirk, so called as the money was raised by the Girl Guides of the Empire. Originally destined for the Cromer Station, she took part in the Dunkirk evacuations in 1940 where she sustained bullet holes and other damage. She was 35 ft long (11 m) and 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) wide. She was the only Cadgwith lifeboat to have an engine and had a crew of seven. She cost £5523 and was built by Rowhedge Ironworks. She is now on display at Mevagissey.[9]
Tourism
[edit]Tourism is the major source of income in the village nowadays, due to the decline in the fishing industry, and many of the houses are let as holiday accommodation. Cadgwith has long been popular as a holiday destination, especially during the summer when there are numerous local events: gig racing days, summer barbecues, a regatta, Morris dancing, musical bands, and regular singing by the Cadgwith Singers in the public house, the Cadgwith Cove Inn, which is thought to be over 400 years old. The South West Coast Path traverses the village and is regularly used as destination to stop over and gain refreshment. A local fisherman runs a fishmonger's which provides fresh fish with recipes and there is a local craft shop. Along the coast path walking towards The Lizard has an interesting feature known as The Devil's Frying Pan, a cave whose roof collapsed leaving its entrance as a bridge and a boulder-filled bay which is seen to 'boil' during rough weather.
References
[edit]- ^ Place-names in the Standard Written Form (SWF) Archived 15 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine : List of place-names agreed by the MAGA Signage Panel Archived 15 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Cornish Language Partnership.
- ^ "Must see fishing villages in Cornwall". Travel Daily News. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 204 Truro & Falmouth ISBN 978-0-319-23149-4
- ^ Weatherhill C. (2007) Cornish Place Names and Language. Ammanford: Sigma Press.
- ^ "Cadgwith, the Lizard, Cornwall". Thelizard.info. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Mary, New Road, Cadgwith, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 7JX (Grade II) (1488605)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "An Index to the Historical Place Names of Cornwall". Chris Bond. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
- ^ "Lizard and Cadgwith: History". RNLI. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ a b Leach, Nicholas (2006) [2000]. Cornwall's Lifeboat Heritage. Chacewater: Twelveheads Press. p. 39. ISBN 0-906294-43-6.
- ^ Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 18–19.
- ^ "Article in The Life-Boat publication regarding the SS Suevic rescue" (PDF). The Life-Boat, RNLI. 1 November 1907. pp. 285–286. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "The greatest-ever rescue remembered". Lizard-lifeboat.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Biggest RNLI rescue is remembered". BBC News. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
External links
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Cadgwith
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and Early Development
Cadgwith originated in the medieval period as a modest collection of fish cellars situated in a sheltered southeast-facing coastal valley on the Lizard Peninsula, providing a natural haven for small-scale fishing activities by local farmers.[5] The site's first recorded mention dates to 1358, when it appeared as Porthcaswith in historical documents, reflecting its early role as a cove utilized for seasonal fishing rather than permanent residence.[4] The name Cadgwith derives from the Cornish Porthkajwydh, translating to "cove of the thicket," a reference to the dense woodland that once covered the surrounding valley; this etymology evolved from the Old Cornish Porthcaswydh, combining "porth" (cove) with "caswydh" (thicket, literally a "battle of trees").[6] By the late 14th century, as noted in a 1360 record as Porthcaswith, the location was already recognized for its maritime potential within the parish of Grade-Ruan.[7] Evidence of permanent habitation emerges from the 16th century, when the site transitioned from transient cellars to a settled fishing community, with fishing established as the dominant occupation amid the growing demand for coastal resources.[6] Initial settlement patterns featured scattered cottages built into the hillside along narrow lanes and alleys, adapting to the rugged topography above the shingle beach. These early structures were typically constructed from local stone or cob walls, topped with thatched or slated roofs to withstand the maritime climate.[3] This modest expansion laid the foundation for Cadgwith's development, preceding the 19th-century surge in pilchard fishing that would later define the village's economy.[5]19th and 20th Century Changes
During the 19th century, pilchard fishing underwent significant expansion in Cadgwith, establishing itself as the village's primary economic driver. Local fishermen employed large seine boats to encircle massive shoals in the shallow coastal waters, a labor-intensive method that relied on onshore spotters, or huers, to direct operations from clifftop huts. The catch was processed in expanded fish cellars along the cove, where pilchards were salted, pressed into barrels, and exported primarily to Mediterranean markets, fueling prosperity for the tight-knit fishing community.[8][9] A landmark event underscoring this boom occurred in October 1845, when Cadgwith fishermen achieved a record single-day haul of over 15 million pilchards, highlighting the extraordinary abundance of shoals during peak seasons and the efficiency of seine netting techniques.[10] This catch, equivalent to thousands of hogsheads, exemplified how the industry supported not only local livelihoods but also contributed to Cornwall's broader maritime economy. By the early 20th century, signs of decline emerged as pilchard migrations grew erratic, likely influenced by environmental shifts such as changes in sea temperatures and plankton distribution. World War II exacerbated these pressures across Cornish fisheries, with many vessels requisitioned for military use, severe restrictions on at-sea operations due to minefields and U-boat threats, and a sharp drop in workforce availability as men served in the armed forces. Post-war recovery proved challenging, as overfishing depleted stocks, the advent of freezing technology diminished demand for traditional salted pilchards, and competition from global suppliers eroded markets, culminating in the cessation of large-scale seine fishing by the 1950s.[8][9][11] These transformations induced profound socio-economic shifts in Cadgwith, marked by population fluctuations in the surrounding Grade-Ruan parish, which numbered around 677 residents in 1961 but stabilized near 1,100 in recent estimates as the community adapted to diminished fishing reliance.[7]Geography
Location and Setting
Cadgwith is located on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England, within the civil parish of Grade-Ruan. Positioned between the village of The Lizard to the south and Coverack to the north, it occupies a coastal spot accessible via minor roads off the A3083, approximately four miles east of Mullion.[3][12] The Grade-Ruan parish, which encompasses Cadgwith, was established in 1934 through the amalgamation of the former ecclesiastical parishes of Grade, Ruan Minor, and Ruan Major, reflecting administrative consolidations due to declining local populations in earlier decades. As of the 2021 census, the parish supports a population of 1,083 residents, contributing to the area's rural character.[7][13] Cadgwith falls within the Cornwall National Landscape, previously designated as the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a protected region spanning nearly one-third of the county and highlighting the Lizard Peninsula's distinctive serpentine geology and coastal scenery. The South West Coast Path, England's longest national trail, passes directly through the village, facilitating access to the surrounding heathlands and cliff-top vistas that define the peninsula's environmental context.[14][15]Coastal Features
Cadgwith's coastline is characterized by two distinct beaches divided by the rocky promontory known as The Todden. The larger Big Beach, located to the east, consists primarily of shingle and pebbles, providing a gently sloping shoreline. To the west lies the smaller Little Cove, featuring a mix of sand and boulders suitable for calmer water activities. At low tide, a narrow strip connects the two beaches, passing between The Todden and adjacent offshore rocks.[16][17] The Todden itself is a prominent headland of rugged rock outcrops, extending seaward with notable formations including The Island, a 7-meter-high rock that fronts the promontory and often experiences breaking waves during stormy conditions, and The Mare, a submerged extension beyond it. These features, along with nearby reefs such as the Craggan Rocks approximately 0.5 miles southeast, contribute to the area's navigational challenges, with the coastline fringed by covered outliers and shallow hazards. Further along the eastern Lizard Peninsula shore near Cadgwith, The Manacles form a extensive reef system stretching about one nautical mile offshore, comprising mostly submerged rocks that exacerbate the treacherous nature of the waters due to strong currents and tidal variations. To the southwest at Lizard Point, The Stags represent a dangerous southward-extending reef, adding to the overall hazardous profile of the local seascape.[4][18][19] Prominent coastal landmarks near Cadgwith include the Devil's Frying Pan, a collapsed blowhole about 60 meters (200 feet) deep formed by sea cave collapse, located roughly 0.4 km south along the coast, and the Man o' War, a towering cliff of serpentine rock overlooking the cove to the south.[20][2] Geologically, Cadgwith's coastal features are embedded within the Lizard Peninsula's unique ophiolite complex, dominated by serpentinites—metamorphic rocks derived from ultramafic oceanic crust formed around 397 million years ago. These green, often banded serpentines, including varieties like lizardite and tremolite, outcrop along the cliffs and beaches, interspersed with schists, gneisses, and rodingite veins from hydrothermal alteration. The peninsula's rocks, obducted during the Devonian closure of the Rheic Ocean, create a landscape of fissured, weathered surfaces that influence the dramatic cliff formations and cove structures around Cadgwith. The Lizard Peninsula, including Cadgwith, falls within the Cornwall National Landscape (formerly known as the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), recognized for its distinctive geological heritage.[21][22]Economy
Traditional Fishing
Cadgwith's fishing industry historically centered on pilchards, which formed the backbone of the local economy until the 1950s.[23] Fishermen employed traditional seine netting techniques, using large boats to deploy weighted cotton nets in a horseshoe shape to encircle shoals, often guided by a huer who spotted fish from clifftop lookout huts.[15] These methods were labor-intensive, requiring capstans to haul the nets and boats ashore, and were supported by fish cellars along the waterfront where pilchards were processed—pressed, salted, and packed into barrels for export.[15] A notable highlight of this era occurred in 1904, when a record 1,798,000 pilchards were landed over just four days, underscoring the village's peak productivity during the 19th-century pilchard boom.[15] Following the decline of pilchard stocks due to overfishing, Cadgwith's fishermen shifted to potting methods targeting shellfish and bottom-dwelling species, including crabs, lobsters, monkfish, conger eels, and sharks.[15][24] This transition reflected broader changes in Cornish fisheries, moving away from large-scale seine operations to more sustainable, smaller-scale inshore fishing using pots deployed from beach-launched boats.[9] As of 2021, a small fleet of around eight fishermen operate from Cadgwith, continuing these practices and landing several tons of crabs weekly alongside lobsters, monkfish, conger eels, and occasional sharks or mackerel.[15][24][25] This output sustains a modest but enduring industry, with catches sold locally or processed for wider markets, preserving the village's maritime traditions amid evolving environmental conditions.[24]Modern Tourism
Following the decline of the pilchard fishing industry in the 1950s, which had been the village's economic backbone since the Middle Ages, Cadgwith transitioned to tourism as its primary income source.[26] Overfishing and changing ocean conditions reduced pilchard stocks dramatically, leading locals to shift toward crab and lobster fishing on a smaller scale while repurposing historic pilchard cellars into holiday accommodations.[3] This pivot preserved the village's character and attracted visitors seeking an authentic Cornish coastal experience, with tourism now sustaining most local livelihoods alongside a small fleet of working boats.[12] The picturesque Cadgwith Cove, with its cluster of thatched cottages and sheltered harbor, serves as the main draw, offering a timeless fishing village ambiance that appeals to summer holidaymakers.[27] Visitors are particularly drawn to the South West Coast Path, which passes through the area and provides scenic walking trails featuring dramatic cliffs, the collapsed sea cave known as the Devil’s Frying Pan, and panoramic views of the Lizard Peninsula.[12] These trails, part of England's longest national walking route, encourage extended stays and exploration, enhancing the village's appeal as a base for outdoor enthusiasts.[28] Seasonal activities center on the cove's shingle beach, where calm summer conditions make it suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and rock pooling, though strong currents require caution without lifeguards.[29] Exploring the narrow lanes and historic fisherfolk cottages adds to the charm, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the village's unhurried pace and buy fresh seafood directly from local boats.[30] Tourism's economic impact is evident in the proliferation of accommodations, from converted cellars to B&Bs, which support year-round visitors despite peak summer crowds.[12] Local businesses, including the Cadgwith Cove Inn—a pub over 300 years old with roots in the village's smuggling era—benefit from tourist trade, serving seafood and ales while preserving maritime relics.[31] This influx helps maintain community viability, as seen in efforts like the Cadgwith Cove Fishing Trust, which raised funds in 2021 to prevent fishing buildings from becoming exclusive holiday lets and, by 2022, successfully purchased all the targeted buildings to maintain them for fishing use, ensuring tourism complements rather than overtakes traditional elements.[32][33]Maritime Heritage
Shipwrecks and Diving
The waters surrounding Cadgwith, part of the Lizard Peninsula, have long been renowned for their treacherous nature, primarily due to the Manacles, a jagged rocky reef extending about a mile offshore that has claimed nearly 200 documented shipwrecks over the centuries.[34] These submerged hazards, combined with strong tidal currents reaching up to 3 knots and frequent poor visibility, have made the area a notorious graveyard for vessels navigating the English Channel.[34] Historical records highlight the Manacles' role in maritime disasters, such as the dual sinking on 21 January 1809 of the HMS Primrose, a British naval brig-sloop, and the transport ship Dispatch, which together resulted in over 110 fatalities washed ashore near the Lizard.[35] Another devastating event occurred during the Great Blizzard of March 1891, when four ships were wrecked on the reef in a single storm, underscoring the perilous conditions for 19th-century shipping routes.[36] Prominent among the wrecks is the SS Mohegan, a luxury liner that struck the Manacles on 14 October 1898 and sank rapidly, leading to the loss of 106 lives; its remains, including the hull, engines, and boilers, lie scattered across the seabed in 22-26 meters of water.[37] Closer to Cadgwith, the Citrine, a cargo steamer, foundered on 2 January 1956 about 1 kilometer southwest of the cove at a depth of 21 meters, its upside-down hull still encrusted with limestone cargo and accessible amid moderate currents.[34] The Bellucia, a British steamer torpedoed by a German U-boat on 7 July 1917, rests broken in shallow waters roughly 2 kilometers east of Bass Point, with intact bow sections and boilers providing a stark reminder of World War I naval warfare in the region.[34] Today, the Cadgwith area has gained significant popularity as a premier deep-sea diving destination, where enthusiasts explore these historical wreck sites by boat launched from the cove or nearby Kennack Sands, drawn by the rich marine biodiversity and preserved artifacts amid depths ranging from 8 to 80 meters.[38] The Manacles' wrecks, including the Mohegan, attract certified divers for their scenic profiles and occasional sightings of seals and colorful anemones, though strong tides necessitate experienced guides and precise timing.[37] Local dive centers emphasize the site's appeal for wreck penetration and historical immersion, contributing to Cadgwith's modern economy while honoring its maritime past.[34]Lifeboat Service
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) established a lifeboat station in Cadgwith in 1867, prompted by the treacherous wrecks along the local coastline that endangered seafarers and the fishing community.[39] The station's boathouse, constructed that year at a cost of £185, served as a base for operations manned primarily by local fishermen, who volunteered to safeguard lives at sea in the challenging waters off Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula.[40] Over its 96 years of service, the Cadgwith station played a crucial role in protecting the area's fishing fleet and responding to maritime emergencies, contributing to the RNLI's broader mission of coastal rescue.[41] The first lifeboat stationed at Cadgwith was the Western Commercial Traveller, a 33-foot pulling boat with 10 oars and capacity for 13 crew members, built by J. Woolfe and G. Shadwell at a cost of £290.[41] Subsequent vessels included the Minnie Moon from 1898 to 1932, a 39-foot self-righting boat with 12 oars and 15 crew, constructed by the Thames Ironworks at Blackwall for £798.[41] The final lifeboat, the Guide of Dunkirk, served from 1941 until the station's closure; this 35-foot motor lifeboat, built by Rowhedge Ironworks for £5,523, accommodated 7 crew and had previously participated in the Dunkirk evacuations.[39][41] The Cadgwith station closed on 31 May 1963 due to operational efficiencies and the construction of a new facility at Kilcobben Cove, leading to a merger with the adjacent Lizard Lifeboat Station to form the Lizard-Cadgwith station (later renamed The Lizard in 1987).[39] This consolidation ensured continued coverage for the coastline while preserving the legacy of Cadgwith's volunteer-driven service to the community.[41] The former boathouse remains a Grade II listed structure, now repurposed for local fishing activities.[40]Community and Culture
Local Events and Traditions
Cadgwith hosts several annual summer events that foster community spirit and celebrate its maritime heritage. The Cadgwith Regatta, typically held in late August, features pilot gig racing competitions for junior, men's, ladies', and mixed crews from local and visiting clubs, accompanied by barbecues, food stalls, and a bar to enhance the festive atmosphere.[42] In July, the Cadgwith Folk Day brings together musicians, performers, and attendees for live folk music sessions, impromptu Morris dancing by groups such as Pensans Morris and Ruan Morris Minors, and fundraising for local charities like Cornwall Music Therapy, marking its 30th anniversary in 2024.[43] These gatherings, organized by the Cadgwith Pilot Gig Club—established in 1981 and one of Cornwall's oldest—emphasize traditional Cornish rowing practices rooted in the village's fishing history.[42] Tied to Cadgwith's fishing legacy, ongoing cultural traditions include regular performances of sea shanties and folk songs at the Cadgwith Cove Inn, serving as a central hub for communal expression. Every Friday night, the Cadgwith Singers lead sessions of traditional maritime shanties, drawing locals and visitors to preserve songs passed down through generations of fishermen.[44] Tuesday evenings feature open-mic folk singing, further embedding these practices in daily village life and reinforcing Cornish musical heritage.[45] The community actively maintains its distinct identity within broader Cornish culture through such events and commemorations. In March 2007, a ceremony honored the 100th anniversary of the RNLI's rescue of over 450 passengers from the wrecked SS Suevic, involving Cadgwith lifeboat crews in one of history's largest sea rescues, highlighting the village's enduring seafaring valor.[46] These activities not only sustain local traditions but also contribute to tourism by showcasing authentic Cornish customs.[47]Architecture and Landmarks
Cadgwith's architecture is characterized by its traditional stone and cob cottages, many of which date to the 17th century and feature thatched or slated roofs, whitewashed walls, and clustered arrangements along the narrow main street and valley slopes.[3] These low, picturesque dwellings, often intersected by winding lanes, reflect the village's historical development as a fishing settlement and contribute to its preserved, timeless aesthetic.[1] A prominent landmark is the Church of St Mary, a rare surviving example of a tin tabernacle constructed in 1898 as a mission church and chapel of ease for the remote coastal community.[48] Built on a stone plinth with a timber frame clad in galvanised corrugated iron, the rectangular structure measures approximately 11.5 by 5 meters, oriented north-south, and includes a porch, chancel bay, and short spire; its windows were replaced in the 20th century, and the roof altered in the 21st.[48] The church gained Grade II listed status on 15 February 2024 for its architectural and historic interest, highlighting its role in meeting 19th-century religious needs and its group value with nearby listed cottages.[48] The Cadgwith Cove Inn, a Grade II listed building since 10 July 1957, dates back over 300 years and remains a vital social center in the village, hosting gatherings and traditional music sessions.[49][31] Its historic structure, lined with relics from the area's seafaring and smuggling past, underscores Cadgwith's maritime heritage while serving as a hub for locals and visitors alike.[50] Preserved fish cellars, remnants of the village's historical origins as a site for seasonal pilchard processing, dot the cove and include structures like the one now housing The Old Cellars restaurant, where fish were historically pressed and salted.[1] These cellars, carefully maintained as part of everyday village life, exemplify Cadgwith's enduring fishing traditions.[1] Complementing these features is the brook that winds through the valley, trickling over the beach and adding to the natural, integrated charm of the settlement's layout.[1]References
- https://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Cadgwith